Access Issue: Stage II Fire Restrictions and Closures in Place as of 8:00 AM May 23
Details

As many of you know Coconino and Kaibab National Forests have implemented Stage II Fire Restrictions. To see what this means check this link fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino… Starting May 23, large portions of the Coconino and Kaibab Forests will be closed to entry. Yes, this means that many of our local crags will be shut down until August unless rescinded earlier due to monsoon rains. This first closure affects The Pit, The Peaks Crag, Hobo Jungle, West Elden, Solitude Canyon, and Kelly Canyon. All of Bill Williams Mt. is closed. All of the San Francisco Peaks is closed. All of Mt. Elden is closed. This is a normal response to an unusually dry winter and threatening fire season. Total forest closure is expected before Memorial Day. LARGE fines of up to 5000$ are in place for people who do not respect the closure. Forest service personnel are driving the forest roads and flying the skies to track illegal activities. There is even a volunteer group, Woods Wathchers that reports suspicious activity. In addition to these closures, much of the state trust lands in Northern Arizona are closed as well (Winslow Wall). Do your research before heading out, because as I said, there will be big fines.

Areas that are still open include Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, The Overlook, The Waterfall, Paradise Forks, Volunteer Canyon, Jacks Canyon, Priest Draw, and Buffalo Park. But you had better double check!

A bulbous, squat spire on the north ridge of the Dry Creek Spire cirque. It blends in with the rock ridge and the lumpy, triangular Hidden Tower behind it. Although not the most aesthetic of the mini-towers in this cirque, the climbing on this one is quite good.

Park in the paved parking loop at the end of the pavement on Dry Creek Road/FS 152C. Hike up the rough dirt road of FS 152C for 1/3 mile, just past the series of gnarly rock shelves where many prospective motorists are turned around. Turn right (east) and locate a hiker's trail that follows the crest of the ridge between the Dry Creek Spire cirque and the next cirque north. This trail is across FS152C from a small pullout/vista. The trail is fairly well-defined as it apparently follows an old road for the initial several hundred yards. It becomes a bit braided as the ridge begins to steepen, with a couple minor branches heading left (north). Ten Minute Spire should be obvious on the ridge directly above. Follow the fainter trail right (southeast), before charging straight up the steep hillside above, through a short cliff-band (easy scramble up a break) to the spire. This last bit can entail some bushwhacking, but with some care and weaving around, it should be minimal. The Original Route starts out of the notch with a cool boulder tunnel just north of the spire. Approach time is about 30 minutes.